Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Value of Company Stock Contributed to Defined Contribution Benefit Plans	$ 11,193	$ 9,780	$ 9,335
Shares of Woodward stock held in Woodward Retirement Savings Plan	5,176	5,681
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Net periodic retirement pension (beneift) cost	(6,048)	4,492	4,481
Projected benefit obligation	201,275	190,423	198,476
Fair value of plan assets	205,161	190,175	161,503
Benefits paid	6,050	5,736
United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]
Net periodic retirement pension (beneift) cost	(6,112)	3,443	2,937
Discount rate support/source data	In the United States, Woodward used a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding.
Projected benefit obligation	137,740	126,532	137,639
Fair value of plan assets	142,090	129,518	105,966
Benefits paid	3,732	3,131
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	21
Accumulated benefit obligation	137,423	116,061
United Kingdom Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Projected benefit obligation	52,710
Fair value of plan assets	52,260
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	1,507
Japan Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Projected benefit obligation	10,825
Fair value of plan assets	10,811
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	1,045
Switzerland Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Discount rate support/source data	In Switzerland, Woodward used high quality swap rates plus a credit spread of 0.20% in fiscal year 2013 and 0.46% in fiscal year 2012, as high quality swaps are available in Switzerland at various durations and trade at higher volumes than bonds.
Foreign Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Net periodic retirement pension (beneift) cost	64	1,049	1,544
Discount rate support/source data	In the United Kingdom and Japan, Woodward used cash flow matching to develop a single rate equivalent for a theoretical portfolio of non-callable, AA-rated bonds for each jurisdiction.
Projected benefit obligation	63,535	63,891	60,837
Fair value of plan assets	63,071	60,657	55,537
Benefits paid	2,318	2,605
Accumulated benefit obligation	61,041	60,701
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Net periodic retirement pension (beneift) cost	1,121	1,089	1,409
Projected benefit obligation	29,225	28,996	37,550
Fair value of plan assets	0	0	0
Benefits paid	4,243	4,206
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year	3,778
Option to elect company provided medical insurance coverage up to this age and a Medicare supplemental plan after this age	65
Approximate number of retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries currently providing postretirement benefits	900
Approximate number of active employees and their covered dependants and beneficiaries who may receive postretirement benefits in the future	45
As a result of a plan amendment, all postretirement medical benefits are fully insured for retirees who have attained this age	65
Accumulated benefit obligation	29,225	28,996
United Kingdom, Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Discount rate support/source data	In the United Kingdom Woodward used cash flow matching to develop a single rate equivalent for a theoretical portfolio of non-callable, AA-rated bonds.
Projected benefit obligation	438
Benefits paid	10
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]
Discount rate support/source data	In the United States, Woodward used a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding.
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	484	422
Pooled funds: Index linked U.K. government securities fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	4,566	4,176
Pooled funds: Index linked U.K. long-term government securities fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	5,569	4,908
Mutual funds: U.S. corporate bond fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	56,559	49,328
Pooled funds: Index linked U.K. corporate bonds fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	16,897	15,810
Equity Funds [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	12,327	11,324
Pooled funds: Japanese fixed income securities [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	4,676	4,414
Pooled funds: International fixed income securities [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	1,638	1,535
Mutual funds: U.S. equity large cap fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	49,220	44,140
Mutual funds: International equity large cap growth fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	35,995	35,777
Pooled funds: Japanese equity securities [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	2,330	2,269
Pooled funds: International equity securities [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	2,067	1,989
Pooled funds: Index linked U.K. equity fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	6,240	6,060
Pooled funds: Index linked international equity fund [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets	6,593	6,047
Insurance Backed Assets [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Fair value of plan assets		1,976
Multiemployer Plan, Japan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
One-time contribution that would be incurred if the Company elects to withdraw	500
Multiemployer Plan, Japan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
One-time contribution that would be incurred if the Company elects to withdraw	1,500
Treasury Stock at Cost [Member]
Value of Company Stock Contributed to Defined Contribution Benefit Plans	$ 8,356	$ 7,857	$ 4,097
Treasury Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Benefit Plans	260	250	209